Carwash with smartphone proximity detection

ABSTRACT

An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 13/492,848 filedon Jun. 9, 2012.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject invention generally pertains to carwashes and morespecifically to means for initiating a carwash cycle.

BACKGROUND

Carwashes for automatically washing cars, trucks, trailers and othervehicles typically comprise a carwash apparatus with one or moresprayers for spraying water, soap, wax and various chemical treatmentson the vehicle. The sprayer might be part of a spray wand dedicated forspraying, or the sprayer might be combined with brushes or othercleaning equipment. Carwash apparatuses are usually powered andcontrolled to provide relative movement between the sprayer and thevehicle. The sprayer, for example, might travel along the vehicle'souter perimeter, or the vehicle might travel while the sprayer isstationary, or both the sprayer and the vehicle move.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a customer holding an example portable digitaldevice used in some examples of a carwash method.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the customer driving to and subsequentlywaiting in line for a carwash. Lines of communication are shown asdashed or dotted lines.

FIG. 3 shows the customer entering a chosen carwash bay.

FIG. 4 shows the vehicle being washed.

FIG. 5 shows an example local communication link between the customerand an example carwash controller.

FIG. 6 shows another example local communication link between thecustomer and an example carwash controller.

FIG. 7 shows another example local communication link between thecustomer and an example carwash controller.

FIG. 8 shows another example local communication link between thecustomer and an example carwash controller.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing various methods that are notnecessarily performed sequentially or in the order shown.

FIG. 10 is another block diagram showing various methods that are notnecessarily performed sequentially or in the order shown.

FIG. 11 is another block diagram showing various methods that are notnecessarily performed sequentially or in the order shown.

FIG. 12 is another block diagram showing various methods that are notnecessarily performed sequentially or in the order shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-13 illustrate example carwash methods that enable a customer 10to purchase one or more carwash options online and then use a smartphonewith an app to actually start the car washing process. The intention isto encourage patron loyalty to carwash chains or franchises that employthe convenient method.

An example of the method might proceed as follows. A customer 10 uses ahome computer or smartphone (FIG. 1) to access a carwash franchisewebsite 14. By way of the website, customer 10 enters a user name, e.g.,DRIVER, and makes an online payment for three carwashes, e.g., twostandard washes and one deluxe wash. At some later period whiletraveling in a vehicle 12, customer 10 uses his smartphone to find thenearest participating carwash. Customer 10 then drives vehicle 12 to thecarwash. Upon arriving at the carwash, customer 10 decides to wait inline for carwash bay-A (FIG. 2). Customer 10 then uses his smartphone toannounce he's at the carwash and that he wants the deluxe wash (FIG. 2).In some examples, customer 10 might use icons 16 on the smartphone toinform the carwash that in this instance he would like the deluxe wash.A carwash controller 20 and/or vendor computer system 22 identifies thecustomer upon recognizing his password, DRIVER. Based on a GPS readingfrom the smartphone, carwash controller 20 and/or vendor computer system22 determines whether vehicle 12 is at the entrance of carwash bay-A(FIG. 3). Otherwise, in some examples, customer 10 might use icons 24 onhis smartphone (FIG. 1) to tell the carwash he's in the line leading tobay-A. If vehicle 12 is at the entrance of carwash bay-A, and bay-A isavailable to receive vehicle 12 (FIG. 3), then carwash controller 20and/or vendor computer system 22 invites customer 10 to enter thecarwash bay. Customer 10 drives in and the car washing is performed(FIG. 4).

In addition and/or as alternatives to using GPS, FIGS. 5-8 show othermeans for determining whether vehicle 12 is at the entrance of carwashbay-A or within 1.5 car lengths of the entrance (e.g., within abouttwenty feet). FIG. 5 shows customer 10 manually entering 26 a some sortof input (e.g., pressing a pushbutton) to carwash controller 20, FIG. 6shows carwash controller 20 scanning 26 b a QR code 28 (Quick ResponseCode, which is a registered trademark of Denso Wave, Inc.) displayed onthe customer's smartphone, FIG. 7 shows a limited distance wirelesscommunication link 26 c (Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.) being establishedbetween carwash controller 20 and the customer's smartphone, and FIG. 8shows carwash controller 20 locally displaying 26 d a code that customer10 first reads and then confirms/repeats by entering the code into hissmartphone or inputs into carwash controller 20. Reference numbers 26 a,26 b, 26 c and 26 d each are examples of a local communication link 26.

In some example carwash methods, the method involves the use of one ormore of the following: vehicle 12, a carwash 30 with a first carwash bay30 a and sometimes a second carwash bay 30 b, carwash controller 20,vendor computer system 22, and a customer digital system 32. The term,“vehicle” means any apparatus with wheels for traveling. Examples ofvehicle 12 include, but are not limited to, a car, truck, bus, van,trailer, etc. The terms, “carwash” and “carwash bay” refer to anyfacility or designated area with at least one sprayer 34 forautomatically washing vehicle 12, wherein there is relativemachine-controlled movement between sprayer 34 and vehicle 12 as vehicle12 is being washed.

The term, “carwash controller” refers to one or more electrical circuitsfor commanding, regulating, monitoring and/or controlling the operationof sprayer 34 and associated carwash equipment. Examples of carwashcontroller 20 include, but are not limited to, a computer, amicroprocessor, an electrical circuit, one or more motor drive units, aprogrammable logic controller, and various combinations thereof.Examples of “associated carwash equipment” include, but are not limitedto, a motor, trolley, pump, door operator, indicator lights, lighteddisplays, sensors, solenoid valves, etc. In some examples, carwashcontroller 20 includes a main control unit 20 a controlling theoperation of sprayer 34 and a user interface unit 20 b (e.g., keyboard,digital display, speaker, microphone, QR scanner, card reader, andvarious combinations thereof, etc.) for facilitating some communicationbetween customer 10 and main control unit 20 a. In some examples, units20 a and 20 b are combined in a single unit.

Vendor computer system 22 is schematically illustrated to represent anyelectronic means for receiving, transmitting and processing digitaldata. Examples of vendor computer system 22 include, but are not limitedto, a desktop computer, laptop computer, web server, etc.

Customer digital system 32 is schematically illustrated to represent anyelectronic means for receiving, transmitting and processing digitaldata. Examples of customer digital system 32 include, but are notlimited to, a desktop computer, home computer, laptop computer, aportable digital device 36, touchpad tablet, GPS navigation system, andvarious combinations thereof. Portable digital device 36 isschematically illustrated to represent any portable electronic means forreceiving, transmitting and processing digital data. Examples ofportable digital device 36 include, but are not limited to, a cellphone, smartphone, iPad, touchpad tablet, GPS navigation system (e.g.,Garmin, Magellan, Tomtom, etc.). In some examples, portable digitaldevice 36 in the form of a cell phone, smartphone or touchpad tablet,includes an integral GPS receiver in communication with a satellitesystem 38 for acquiring one or more GPS coordinates 40 or locationsignals that identify the location of portable digital device 36. Insome examples, portable digital device 36 has Internet access orcommunication via an Android operating system, wherein ANDROID is aregistered trademark of Google Inc., of Mountain View, Calif. IPAD is aregistered trademark of Apple Inc., of Cupertino, Calif.

One example carwash method is illustrated in FIG. 9, wherein block 42represents customer 10 submitting a request for one or more carwashoperations (e.g., low cost standard wash, premium wash, deluxe wash,etc.) at carwash 30. The request can be submitted in various waysincluding, but not limited to, customer 10 using customer digital system32 (e.g., a desktop computer, smartphone, etc.) in communicating overthe Internet via a wireless remote communication link 44 and/or 46 withcarwash website 14 posted by vendor computer system 22. For example,block 48 represents customer 10 requesting a carwash operation byentering an input (e.g., mouse-clicking on low cost standard wash icon16 a, premium wash icon 16 b, deluxe wash icon 16 c, etc.) to portabledigital device 36, wherein customer 10 can carry portable digital device36 in vehicle 12.

Still referring to the example of FIG. 9, block 50 represents customer10 or website 14 assigning an identity 52 (user name, password, etc.) toportable digital device 36, and conveying/communicating identity 52 towebsite 14. Block 54 represents customer 10 using customer digitalsystem 36 for making an online Internet payment (credit card, PayPal,etc.) that covers the cost of the one or more requested carwashoperations. Block 56 represents website 14 associating identity 52 tothe online Internet payment so that at least one of vendor computersystem 22 and carwash controller 20 knows that the customer withportable digital device 36 has paid for a carwash operation. Vendorcomputer system 22 and/or carwash controller 20 later uses thisinformation in confirming the identity of portable digital device 36 atthe carwash, as illustrated by block 58.

Still referring to FIG. 9, upon approaching carwash 30 or at some pointprior to entering carwash 30, customer 10 selects a desired carwash bay(e.g., bay 30 a or 30 b) if carwash 30 has more than one carwash bay.Customer 10, for example, might select whichever carwash bay has theshortest line of cars. Block 60 represents customer 10 selecting viaportable digital device 36 carwash bay 30 a or 30 b from a plurality ofcarwash bays, thereby telling carwash controller 20 which bay vehicle 12intends to enter. In some examples, customer 10 selects bay 30 a or 30 band informs carwash controller 20 of the choice by clicking on one of aplurality of icons 24.

Still referring to FIG. 9, block 62 represents vendor computer system 22and/or carwash controller 20 determining whether the chosen carwash bay30 a is available to receive a vehicle for the carwash operation. Block62 also represents vendor computer system 22 and/or carwash controller20 determining whether portable digital device 36 in vehicle 12 iswithin a predetermined distance 64 (FIG. 3) of the entrance of carwash30. In some examples, predetermined distance 64 is about 1.5 car lengthsor about twenty feet. In some examples, determining whether portabledigital device 36 is within distance 64 is achieved by vendor computersystem 22 and/or carwash controller 20 considering the GPS coordinates40 of portable digital device 36, as illustrated by block 70. Ifportable digital device 36 is within distance 64 and the carwash isavailable for the carwash operation, then vendor computer system 22and/or carwash controller 20 allows the carwash operation request, andcarwash 30 performs the chosen carwash operation on vehicle 12, asillustrated by block 66. If, however, portable digital device 36 isbeyond distance 64, vendor computer system 22 and/or carwash controller20 disallows the carwash request and inhibits the carwash operation, asillustrated by block 68.

Another example carwash method is illustrated in FIG. 10, wherein block72 and image 74 (FIG. 1) represents displaying a carwash location 76 ofcarwash 30 on customer digital system 32. Arrow 78 of FIG. 2 illustratesdriving vehicle 12 to the carwash location. Block 80 of FIG. 10 andicons 16 of FIG. 1 represent displaying a plurality of carwash optionson customer digital system 36. In some examples, icons 16 for carwashoptions are displayed concurrently. In some examples, icons 16 forcarwash options are display sequentially. Block 82 of FIG. 10 and athumb 84 of FIG. 1 represents selecting a desired carwash option 16 a,16 b and/or 16 c from the plurality of carwash options 16. Block 86represents communicating the desired carwash option from customerdigital system 36 to carwash controller 20, and block 88 representscommunicating the desired carwash option from customer digital system 36to vendor computer system 22. In some examples, such communications arefacilitated via the Internet, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or combinationsthereof. WI-FI is a trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance, and BLUETOOTH is atrademark of Bluetooth SIG.

Still referring to FIG. 10, block 90 represents making an onlineInternet payment for the desired carwash option. Block 92 representsportable digital device 36 informing carwash controller 20 (informingdirectly or via vendor computer system 22) that vehicle 12 is inposition to enter carwash bay 30 a. Block 94 represents carwashcontroller 20 determining whether carwash bay 30 a is available toreceive vehicle 12. If carwash controller 20 determines that carwash bay30 a is available to receive vehicle 12, then subsequent to portabledigital device 36 in vehicle 12 informing carwash controller 20 thatvehicle 12 is in position to enter carwash bay 30 a, at least one ofvendor computer system 22 and carwash controller 20 invites vehicle 12to enter carwash bay 30 a, as illustrated by block 96. Examples of suchinvitation to enter carwash bay 30 a include, but are not limited to, anindicator 98 (e.g., a sign and/or speaker) providing an invitationmessage 100 (e.g., audio or visual), and/or an audio or visualinvitation message emitted from portable digital device 36. Exampleinvitation messages include, but are not limited to, the following: “Youmay enter the carwash now” or “You may enter the carwash when you areready.”

Still referring to FIG. 10, in some example methods, block 102represents at least one of vendor computer system 22, carwash controller20 and customer digital system 32 determining whether portable digitaldevice 36 is proximate carwash 30 (e.g., within distance 64). Examplesof determining whether portable digital device 36 is proximate carwash30 include, but are not limited to, customer 10 simply using portabledigital device 36 to tell vendor computer system 22 and/or carwashcontroller 20 that vehicle 12 is in a proximate position to entercarwash bay 30 a, a GPS reading 40′ of portable digital device 36 beingconveyed to vendor computer system 22 and/or carwash controller 20 (asrepresented by block 104 of FIG. 10), and any of the various meansillustrated in FIGS. 5-8. Block 106 represents customer 10 selecting viaportable digital device 36 carwash bay 30 a or 30 b from a plurality ofcarwash bays, thereby telling carwash controller 20 which bay vehicle 12intends to enter. In some examples, customer 10 selects bay 30 a or 30 band informs carwash controller 20 of the choice by clicking on one ofthe plurality of icons 24. Arrow 108 of FIG. 3 illustrates vehicle 12entering carwash bay 30 a. Block 110 represents performing the carwashoperation according to the desired carwash option, wherein the carwashoperation includes washing vehicle 12.

Still referring to FIG. 10, in the event of an emergency while washingvehicle 12, block 112 represents customer 10 inputting a stop signal 114(FIG. 1) to portable digital device 36, wherein stop signal 114 isconveyed to carwash controller 20 via the Internet, Bluetooth, WiFi orsome other wireless communication link. Block 116 represents carwashcontroller 20 discontinuing washing of vehicle 12 in response to stopsignal 114. Examples of such an emergency include, but are not limitedto, sprayer 34 striking or scraping against vehicle 12, a window ofvehicle 12 being stuck open, a child suddenly opening a door or windowof vehicle 12, customer 10 suddenly recalling that cargo is on theexterior of vehicle 12, the customer realizing the vehicle's sidemirrors or antenna are not retracted, the customer noticing that thevehicle's gas cap is missing, sprayer 34 failing to ever stop, etc.

Another example carwash method is illustrated in FIG. 11, wherein block118 of FIG. 11 plus FIGS. 2-8 illustrate carrying customer 10 andportable digital device 36 within vehicle 12. Block 120 representsselecting via portable digital device 36 a carwash bay from a pluralityof carwash bays at carwash 30. Block 122 of FIG. 11 plus FIG. 4illustrate washing vehicle 12 at carwash 30. Block 124 representscustomer 10 inputting stop signal 114 (FIG. 1) to portable digitaldevice 36. Block 126 represents inputting stop signal 114 by selecting126 a stop icon (stop signal 114) on portable digital device 36. Block128 represents discontinuing washing vehicle 12 in response to customer10 inputting stop signal 114 to portable digital device 36. Block 130represents customer 10 inputting a resume-operation signal 132 (FIG. 1)to portable digital device 36. Block 134 represents resuming washingvehicle 12 in response to customer 10 inputting resume-operation signal132 to portable digital device 36.

Another example carwash method is illustrated in FIG. 12, wherein block136 represents displaying on customer digital system 32 a representation(e.g., a map image 74 and/or text address) of carwash location 76,wherein customer digital system 32 includes portable digital device 36that customer 10 has in vehicle 12. Arrow 78 of FIG. 2 illustratesdriving vehicle 12 to carwash location 76. Block 138 representsdisplaying a plurality of carwash options 16 on customer digital system36. Block 140 illustrates selecting a desired carwash option from theplurality of carwash options 16, wherein selecting the desired carwashoption involves customer digital system 36. Block 142 representsestablishing a remote communication link 44 and/or 46 (FIG. 2) betweencustomer digital system 32 and vendor computer system 22. The term,“remote” means a communication link that can extend more than 10 milesvia known means such as cell phone towers, WiFi, Bluetooth, cable,satellite, and various combinations thereof, etc.

Still referring to FIG. 12, block 144 represents establishing localcommunication link 26 between customer 10 and carwash controller 20,wherein local communication link 26 is shorter than remote communicationlinks 44 and 46. In other words, the term, “local” means localcommunication link 26 extends a shorter distance than remotecommunication links 44 and 46. Examples of local communication link 26includes, but are not limited to, customer 10 manually entering somesort of input (e.g., pressing a pushbutton) to carwash controller 20(block 144 a and local communication link 26 a of FIG. 5), carwashcontroller 20 scanning QR code 28 displayed on portable digital device36 (block 144 b and local communication link 26 b of FIG. 6), a limiteddistance wireless communication link, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.,being established between carwash controller 20 and portable digitaldevice 36 (block 144 c and local communication link 26 c of FIG. 7), andcarwash controller 20 locally displaying a password or code (e.g.,alphanumeric) that customer 10 first reads and then confirms/repeats byentering the password or code into portable digital device 36 or inputsinto carwash controller 20 (block 144 d and local communication link 26d of FIG. 8).

Still referring to FIG. 12, block 146 represents communicating thedesired carwash option 16 from customer digital system 32 to carwashcontroller 20 using at least one of remote communication links 44 and 46and local communication link 26. Block 148 represents communicating thedesired carwash option 16 from customer digital system 32 to vendorcomputer system 22 using at least one of remote communication links 44and 46 and local communication link 26. Block 150 represents making anonline Internet payment for the desired carwash option 16, wherein theonline Internet payment involves customer digital system 32, vendorcomputer system 22 and remote communication link 44 and/or 46. Block 152represents informing carwash controller 20 via local communication link26 that vehicle 12 is in position to enter carwash bay 30 a. Block 154represents carwash controller 20 determining whether carwash bay 30 a isavailable to receive vehicle 12. If carwash controller 20 determinesthat carwash bay 30 a is available to receive vehicle 12, thensubsequent to carwash controller 20 being informed that vehicle 12 is inposition to enter carwash bay 30 a, at least one of vendor computersystem 22 and carwash controller 20 inviting vehicle 12 to enter carwashbay 30 a, as illustrated by block 156. Block 158 represents carwash 30performing the carwash operation according to the chosen desired carwashoption, wherein the carwash operation includes washing vehicle 12.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of the coverage of this patent isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope ofthe appended claims either literally or under the doctrine ofequivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A carwash method for washing a vehicle for a customer at a carwash that includes a plurality of carwash bays, wherein the customer has a customer digital system that includes a portable digital device in the vehicle, and the carwash method involves the use of at least one of a vendor computer system and a carwash controller, the carwash method comprising: displaying a plurality of carwash options on the customer digital system; using the customer digital system submitting a request for a carwash operation; making an online internet payment using the customer digital system that covers a cost of the carwash operation, assigning an identity to the portable digital device and associating the identity with the online internet payment; selecting via the portable digital device a carwash bay of the plurality of carwash bays by transmitting a selection to at least one of the carwash controller and the vendor computer system; confirming the identity of the portable digital device at the carwash; determining by at least one of the vendor computer system and the carwash controller whether the carwash is available for the carwash operation and at least one of the vendor computer system and the carwash controller determining that the portable digital device in the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the carwash; and transmitting an invitation by at least one the vendor computer system and the carwash controller wherein the invitation includes at least one of an audio invitation message and a visual invitation message, emitted from the portable digital device, allowing the request and the carwash subsequently performing the carwash operation on the vehicle.
 2. The carwash method of claim 1, wherein submitting the request for the carwash operation at the carwash is performed by the customer entering an input to the portable digital device that the customer has in the vehicle, and the portable digital device is Internet accessible.
 3. The carwash method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the portable digital device is within a predetermined distance of the carwash involves considering at least one GPS coordinate.
 4. The carwash method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the portable digital device is within a predetermined distance of the carwash involves a WiFi limited distance wireless communication link.
 5. The carwash method of claim 4, wherein the WiFi limited distance wireless communication link extends between the carwash controller and the portable digital device when the portable digital device is within the predetermined distance.
 6. The carwash method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined distance is greater than the WiFi limited distance wireless communication link when the portable digital device is beyond the predetermined distance from the carwash controller. 